''Manoao'' ( ) is a

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unisp ...

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

in the family ''

Podocarpaceae Podocarpaceae is a large family of mainly southern hemisphere conifers, known in English as podocarps, comprising about 156 species of evergreen trees and shrubs.James E. Eckenwalder. 2009. ''Conifers of the World''. Portland, Oregon: Timber Pres ...

.'' The single species, ''M. colensoi'', commonly known as manoao (from Māori), silver pine, Westland pine, or white silver pine, is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

. Before 1996 it was classified in genus ''

Dacrydium ''Dacrydium'' is a genus of conifers belonging to the podocarp family Podocarpaceae. Sixteen species of evergreen Plant sexuality, dioecious trees and shrubs are presently recognized. The genus was first described by Solander in 1786, and former ...

'' or '' Lagarostrobos'', but has recently been recognised as a distinct genus; some botanists still treat it in ''Lagarostrobos'' on the basis that it is not phylogenetically distinct from that genus. In molecular phylogenetic analyses ''Manoao'' was found to be related to '' Parasitaxus'' (a parasitic and monotypic genus from

New Caledonia New Caledonia ( ; ) is a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, southwest of Vanuatu and east of Australia. Located from Metropolitan France, it forms a Overseas France#Sui generis collectivity, ''sui generis'' collectivity of t ...

) and '' Lagarostrobos'' (a single species from

Tasmania Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...

when narrowly defined), but their exact relationships are unresolved. ''Manoao colensoi'' is a slow-growing

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, e.g., including only woody plants with secondary growth, only ...

up to in height, in shady, wet areas of New Zealand. It is a source of fine, straight and durable timber.

Distribution

''M. colensoi'' can be found in the North Island from Te Paki southwards to

Mount Ruapehu Mount Ruapehu (; English ) is an active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Taupō Volcanic Zone and North Island North Island Volcanic Plateau, volcanic plateau in New Zealand. It is northeast of Ohakune and southwest of the southern s ...

. However it is common only in the central North Island. It is also found in the western South Island.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q12981837, from2=Q138261 Trees of New Zealand Trees of mild maritime climate Least concern plants Monotypic conifer genera Podocarpaceae genera Podocarpaceae Taxa named by Brian Molloy (botanist) Endemic flora of New Zealand